1 Hear therefore, O you kings, and understand; learn, you that are judges of the ends of the earth.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 Wisdom, therefore, wherever it dwells, always governs the mind well. For the powers of the body, being mostly foolish, often cast themselves into the abyss of sins: therefore the wise is preferred to the strong, because wisdom directs the steps of man; but bodily strength, although sometimes, when it has overcome someone through power, may imitate strength, yet without the guid…
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Hear therefore, etc., as if to say: since wisdom is so useful, hear therefore, with the outward hearing, O kings: Gloss: "Prelates"; and understand, with the inward hearing: Proverbs 1: "A wise man hearing shall be yet wiser, and he that understandeth shall possess governance": Matthew 13: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Learn, O judges of the ends of the earth, that…
2 Give ear, you that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 They admonish the rulers of the Church to keep the justice of God's commandments, and to hurry to learn and understand the truth of the divine testimonies: for just as they themselves, having been appointed by the Lord with given authority, are made teachers and judges of their brethren so that they may judge them according to the principle of impartiality, and teach them to ke…
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Give ear, namely both the outward and inward ear, you who restrain, by holding back from evil, the multitudes of peoples committed to your care: Proverbs 14: "In the multitude of the people is the dignity of the king." And you delight in yourselves among the throngs of nations, that is, you glory in your prelacies: against which Gregory says in the Pastoral Rule: "As often as a…
3 For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.
Vigilius of Thapsus · AD 484 The Father reigns, the Son reigns, the Holy Spirit reigns. Of the Father the Gospel says, "If one is not reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Of the Son it is said, "Say to the peoples, 'The Lord reigned from the wood.' " In Solomon it is said of the Holy Spirit, "Your sovereignty comes from the Holy Spirit." And then, "Though you are minister…
Bonaventure · AD 1257 And you ought to listen, because power was given to you by the Lord: whence Romans thirteen: "There is no power except from God": power: Gloss: "Judiciary on earth," namely as regards the definition of the sentence: John nineteen: "You would have no power against me at all, unless it had been given to you from above." And strength: Gloss: "Of punishing," as regards the executio…
4 Because, being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged aright, nor kept the law, nor walked after the counsel of God;
Bonaventure · AD 1257 I have rightly said that he will examine etc.: and deservedly so, since, when you were ministers, not lords, of his kingdom, that is, of the Church Militant: 1 Peter 5: "Not as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart"; likewise 1 Corinthians 4: "Let a man so account of us as ministers of Christ" etc.
5 Horribly and speedily shall he come upon you: for a sharp judgment shall be to them that are in high places.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Dreadfully, that is, terribly: Hebrews 10: "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God": and swiftly he will appear to you: whence Zephaniah 1: "Near is the great day of the Lord, and exceedingly swift." And although the day of the general judgment be far off, yet the day of the particular judgment, that is, of death, is near: whence Ecclesiasticus 38: "Rem…
6 For mercy will soon pardon the lowliest: but mighty men shall be mightily tormented.
Origen of Alexandria · AD 253 "Their destiny will be of no benefit to them," because what is of benefit is not the mere fact of sitting in the presbytery but living a life worthy of that position, as the Word demands.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 In Holy Scripture, when the sun is presented figuratively, sometimes the Lord is signified by it, as is stated in the book of Wisdom, where it is said that all the wicked, upon recognizing their own condemnation at the final judgment, will say: We have strayed from the path of truth, and the light of justice did not shine for us; and the sun did not rise for us (Wis. 5:6).
Bonaventure · AD 1257 For to the little one, that is, to the weak and humble: whence the Gloss: "To those who have sinned through ignorance, or frailty, or necessity, and have blotted it out by humble penance": mercy is granted: Gloss: "The remission of sins," as regards punishment, whether wholly or in part, here or in the future: Isaiah, last chapter: "To whom shall I look but to the poor little o…
7 For he which is Lord over all shall fear no man’s person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man’s greatness: for he has made the small and great, and cares for all alike.
Hilary of Poitiers · AD 367 The rich person does not easily attain riches of the soul, that is, the virtues of this world. He who says, "It is more difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven" is clearly saying that it is easier for a poor person to do so.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 To those who, through ignorance or weakness or even necessity, have committed certain crimes, and yet have not ceased through humility and repentance to erase those sins, the most merciful Judge grants the grace of forgiveness.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 For the Lord will not withdraw, namely from punishment and torment, the person of anyone, namely of the small or the great, out of private affection: Ezekiel eighteen: "I will judge each one according to his ways, O house of Israel, says the Lord." "God is not a respecter of persons," Acts ten.
8 But a severe trial shall come upon the mighty.
John Damascene · AD 749 No one is entirely without the gifts of God, but one will be inclined to this virtue and another to that. One to more virtue, another to less. One to the more elevated and supereminent virtues, another to those that are humble and modest. God has distributed to each according to the measure of his faith.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 For God is not a respecter of persons, as the apostle Peter testifies; but in every nation, whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:35). But for those who are false teachers and introduce destructive sects, and deny the Lord who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction (2 Peter 2), the gloom of darkness is reserved.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 However, in the sense of "but." For the stronger, in evil, a stronger torment awaits, in punishment, as is evident in Lucifer and the other demons.
9 To you therefore, O kings, do I speak, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall away.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Because a stronger torment awaits the stronger, to you therefore, O kings etc: Gloss: "Having finished the discourse to the mighty, he turns his exhortation to the rulers of the Church": Gloss: "O kings, that is, rulers of the Church, or all those to whom the governance of their souls has been entrusted".
10 For they that keep holiness holily shall be judged holy: and they that have learned such things shall find what to answer.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 They admonish ecclesiastical rulers, indeed all generally to whom governance of their souls is entrusted, to learn divine wisdom, so that they may not transgress the commandments of God.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 And rightly did I say: that you may learn wisdom, lest you fall away from justice: for they who have kept justice, which is the way to wisdom, according to that passage of Ecclesiasticus chapter one: "Son, if you desire wisdom, keep justice"; shall be justly judged, Gloss: "They shall receive the reward of their justice", namely in good: whence Isaiah chapter three: "Say to the…
11 Therefore set your affection upon my words; desire them, and you shall be instructed.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Desire therefore etc. Since wisdom is so useful that it causes one not to fall from justice, etc.: desire therefore my words, to be heard concerning wisdom: Ecclesiasticus twenty-four: "Come over to me, all you who desire me." And love them, namely those already heard, according to that word of the Psalm: "I have loved your commandments above gold and topaz," etc.
12 Wisdom is glorious, and never fades away: yes, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 It is true that whoever loves wisdom and is hard-working in its meditation preserves discipline in morals, nor can a lover of wisdom be proven otherwise unless he is a preserver of discipline. Therefore, Truth itself says: If you love me, keep my commandments (Jn. 14:15). And again: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word (Jn. 14:23).
Bonaventure · AD 1257 "Resplendent and unfading is wisdom—with whom there is no change, no shadow of alteration—and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of man's desire." And so, she appears unchanging in the rules of divine Law that bind us.
13 She anticipates them that desire her, in making herself first known to them.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 The glory of wisdom is unfading, and it is open only to those who truly love it and diligently seek it. But those who seek it falsely will in no way attain it, because, as was said above, the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from deceit, and wisdom will not enter into a wicked soul.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 She anticipates, namely before she is found by the zeal of the seeker: the Gloss: "Offering herself freely: for she herself is the way, the truth, and the life, whence through her one goes to her and arrives." She anticipates, I say, that is, she goes before those who desire her, so that she may first show herself to them: because they would not come before her unless they were…
14 Whoever seeks her early shall have no great toil: for he shall find her sitting at his doors.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 This wisdom is Christ, the Son of God, of whom the Apostle says: I speak of Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God, in whom all the fullness of divinity dwells bodily (Col. 2:9).
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Who from the light etc. I have rightly said that she is found by those who seek her, because who from the light, that is, as soon as the light rises for him: Gloss: "From the beginning of the shining of faith," not from the night, as sinners always remaining in the night, but as the just, of whom Proverbs 4: "The path of the just is as a shining light" etc.: First Thessalonians…
15 To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoever watches for her shall quickly be without care.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 The Lord adds, "Because they do not know the one who sent me." These words are said concerning that knowledge about which it is written elsewhere, "To know you is perfect wisdom." Those who have this knowledge of the Father, by whom Christ was sent, absolutely cannot persecute the ones whom Christ gathers, because they themselves, along with the others, have been gathered by Ch…
Bonaventure · AD 1257 The benefit in the present is shown to be fourfold: first, understanding in the rational faculty; second, security in the irascible faculty; third, gladness in the concupiscible faculty; and fourth, foresight of future things.
16 For she goes about seeking such as are worthy of her, shows herself favorably to them in the ways, and meets them in every thought.
Cyril of Jerusalem · AD 386 How truly precious is the Holy Spirit, the good sovereign! Thus we receive baptism in the Father, in the Son and in the Holy Spirit! He fights against many demons who attack those who are still burdened by the body with beastly ferocity.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 The paths of life lead to the Creator. Through visible things we have departed from God; through the same things we ought to return to God. For the paths to the Creator are the works of creation considered. When we observe what has been made, we marvel at the power of the Maker.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 The whole world is a way leading to the exemplar. As you notice that a ray of light coming in through a window is colored according to the shades of the different panes, so the divine ray shines differently in each creature and in the various properties. Hence, in Wisdom: "She appears to them in the ways." Again, it is a trace of God's wisdom.
17 For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;
Bonaventure · AD 1257 The manner in which such wisdom is obtained is clearly seen from authority and through examples. As to the former, the Book of Wisdom reads: "For the first step toward discipline is a very earnest desire for her; then, care for discipline is love of her; love means the keeping of her laws; to observe her laws is the basis for incorruptibility; and incorruptibility makes one clo…
18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed to her laws is the assurance of imperishability;
Athanasius of Alexandria · AD 373 God created human beings and wanted that they remain incorruptible. But people, becoming careless, abandoned the contemplation of God, imagining and inventing evil.… Thus they received the sentence of death, which had been threatened them beforehand.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 The Apostle Peter shows the steps of this benefit and progress in his Epistle, saying: But you, brothers, making every effort, supply in your faith virtue, and in virtue knowledge, and in knowledge self-control, and in self-control patience, and in patience godliness, and in godliness brotherly love, and in brotherly love charity.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Care therefore, as if to say: since it is the case that the desire for discipline is the beginning of wisdom, therefore care for discipline, that is, the desire for discipline, is love, that is, the cause of love for wisdom itself: for what we desire, we love when we possess it.
19 And imperishability makes us near to God:
Bonaventure · AD 1257 But incorruption makes one to be near to God: whence it is sung of virgins that "they follow the Lamb wherever he goes," Revelation 14.
20 Therefore the desire of wisdom brings to a kingdom.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "At all times my soul longed to desire the ways of your righteousness." A commendable passion, this, not a blameworthy one. It is not of this desire that it is written, "Do not covet," a prohibition that regards the passions with which the flesh rises against the spirit. This, rather is a longing by which the spirit rises against the flesh.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Therefore the desire for wisdom, which is its beginning, will lead to an everlasting kingdom: the Gloss: "Which consists in the knowledge of the Divinity," according to that saying in John 17: "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the true God" etc.
21 If your delight be then in thrones and scepters, O you kings of the people, honor wisdom, that you may reign for evermore.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 If therefore you delight etc., as if to say: since he gives an everlasting kingdom, therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters: The Gloss: "He admonishes kings to love wisdom, without which they cannot reign: for the commonwealth is well governed when philosophers reign and kings philosophize.
22 As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth.
Rabanus Maurus · AD 856 It is clear that the plague of envy is not a companion of wisdom, because through the envy of the Devil, death entered into the whole world, and through the wisdom of God the human race was rescued from the snare of death.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 But what is wisdom, as if to say: thus I have invited you to wisdom, and that you may assent, I will relate, etc. Or it may be continued thus: up to this point I have admonished you to wisdom: but, standing for "however": from now on I will relate what wisdom is, etc.
23 Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Nor with wasting envy, that is, envy that causes wasting: Proverbs 14: "Envy is the rotting of the bones"; likewise in the Psalm: "The sinner shall see and shall be angry, he shall gnash his teeth and waste away." Will I travel, because she is the worst companion, for she devours a man like a wild beast: Genesis 37: "A most evil wild beast has devoured him, a beast has consumed…
24 But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.
Didymus the Blind · AD 398 Only God is declared to be wise. He is defined as wise because he does not receive wisdom from another, nor does he participate in the wisdom of another. Many in fact are called wise, not by their nature but by the fact that wisdom is communicated to them.
Quodvultdeus · AD 450 Having arrived at Jerusalem, Ezra, inflamed with zeal for the Law, decided first of all to purify the people of their vices, since, as the prophet said, "A wise king is the salvation of his people." Having found the book of Moses, he showed, among other things, that the wrath of God was kindled against the people because they had married foreign wives against God's commandment.…
Bonaventure · AD 1257 But a multitude etc., as if to say: and you ought to listen; but, meaning because; because a multitude of the wise: the Gloss: "The assembly of preachers"; is the health of the world, that is, the cause of health: Proverbs 11: "Where there is no governor, the people shall fall; but there is safety where there are many counsels." Whoever therefore opposes the multiplication or m…
25 Receive therefore instruction through my words, and it shall do you good.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 And because wisdom is so useful, therefore receive discipline, that is, wisdom, through my words, excitatively or occasionally, but through divine inspiration effectively and causally: whence Ecclesiasticus 1: "All wisdom is from the Lord God." And it will profit you, because it is said in the last chapter of Ecclesiastes: "The words of the wise are as goads," namely by provoki…